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@CologneMike wrote:
Convert Potato Market into a Green Park?
I believe the Potato Market came into existence in the 19th century after the filling in of the Merchant’s Quay? The Limerick Civic Trust in one of their numerous conservation projects, redeveloped the Potato Market for civic and market usage. My proposal would of course undo their great work here but I think it would be a worth while exercise to consider other options?
My proposal is simply convert the market into a Green Park similar to the one on the other side of the Abbey River, i.e. the Custom House Park. It would mean removing the high walls that run between Mathew Bridge and the Curragour Boat Club and replacing them with low railings. These high walls demonstrate Limerick’s old negative relationship to the Shannon which was to “build with it’s back to the riverâ€. The high railings and gate entrance would remain intact on the Merchant’s Quay. Trees and greens would replace the cobbled stone surface. A new Boat House would complement the park.
The major problem here is that there is very little awareness of the Custom House park and especially the potato market. The custom house park is basically only part of a walking route from arthurs quay on towards King Johns castle,(see picture below) there is no room for expansion here either as the grounds of the Hunt museum are imediately adjacent to the park.
As for the potato market, i dont think many Limerick people even know what it is!.. im sure for many its just known for being a handy place to park!:o I dont see many “civic events” taking place either, how often (if ever) is a market held there? The potato market has been home to “Ireland on ice” for the last couple of festive seasons but apart from that it seems to be lying idle, the Sylvester O’ Halloran pedestrian bridge is hugely under-used aswell. Im sure this isnt how Limerick Civic Trust invisaged things!
I think CologneMike has it spot on with his suggestion for a new park, the potato market is large enough to be developed into a significant public amenity, it is also in a high profile location next to city hall and some popular tourist attractions which would ensure pretty high usage. The development of a new public park here would also present an opportunity to right the wrongs of Arthurs Quay Park which has been such a dismal failure!
Another piece on the former Central Cinema on Bedford Row (Limerick Post)
Curtain finally comes down on Central cinema
ANOTHER prominent Limerick landmark is about to face the demolition squad.
The former Grand Central cinema, renamed the Central Studio in 1972, is to make way for shops and offices, designed to blend in with the new look Bedford Row.
Of Limerick’s cinemas of yesteryear, The Royal alone stands, with the Lyric, Carlton, City Theatre and Savoy having fallen by the wayside.
Up to recently, The Central accommodated the Belltable Film Club.
Limerick businessmen John Costello and Paul O’Brien are the men behind the new venture on Bedford Row.
Mr Costello had been associated with the Royal George Hotel and other businesses in city and county.
History books show that the building on which the Central is located was originally built as a Primitive Wesleyan Methodist preaching house, in 1812.
It is understood that the facade of the church, to the rear of the former cinema, is to be retained.
The Central is to be completely renovated to provide accommodation on four floors, suitable for retail/offices.
No Name, who had occupied the ground floor, have moved to nearby Sarsfield Street, to facilitate the new development.
Letting agent Pat Kearney of Rooneys, told the Limerick Post that negotiations were in train with a number of retailers.
“This is a very exciting project and given the changes that have taken place in the general Bedford Row/Henry Street area in recent times, is sure to attract the attention of leading retailers..
This will be a superb modern premises when completed providing spacious accommodation throughout and with a most attractive façade and courtyard elevation, with side access from Bedford Row.
As exclusively revealed in the Limerick Post last year, there are also plans to create a new street, from Shannon Street to Bedford Row, which will further enhance the area.
The Central Studio building had been owned by Mr Tom Anderson
John O’Shaughnessy
The pictures below show the current sorry state of the Central, its best days really are a long way behind it, the 2nd image shows the dingy laneway between the cinema and the Bank of Ireland. From here you can easily identify the original chapel behind the 1920s pebble dashed cinema front, obviously it has been heavily altered with little of the original features remaining, note also the crude fire escape!. Its thought that the chapel facade is intact from the 1st floor upwards!
Its interesting also that the writer picks up on the Shannon Street proposal, last year there was a lot of speculation that Limerick based developers were in talks about acquiring a number of properties including the stella ballroom and myles breen’s pub with a view to developing a new shopping complex similar to Cruises Street.
Theres a few issues with this, firstly the site is no way as big as the former Cruises hotel site and a number of properties to the rear of the hotel were also purchased as part of the project. Secondly any talk of this new “street” linking up with Bedford Row looks to be a non runner as the retail side of the Savoy redevelopment fronting onto Bedford Row is well underway.
It remains just speculation as there has been no movement on it in the meantime and all the buisnesses on the site are still operating!
Limerick Post 27th January 2007
Riverside city comes into its own
LIMERICK City Council is set to deliver on a promise given by the city manager, Tom Mackey, just before Christmas that very specific moves to develop the city’s riverside strategy are all set for rollout.
The council’s objective is to create new high quality amenity areas focusing on the river quays.
Central to that is the development of separate parks on Clancy and O’Callaghan Strands, the installation of boardwalks from Thomond Bridge to the water’s edge at King John’s Castle and on towards the quays is just one element to the council’s riverside strategy for which tender documents have been finalised.
The Clancy Strand and O’Callaghan Strand parks project is currently at tender, and it is estimated that construction work will commence within two-three months.
To accompany the building of new parks on both strands will be new, wide, high quality footpaths, ornate and powerful street lighting to improve security for walkers and to act as a deterrent to anti-social behaviour, railings erected along the riverside, top quality street furniture and new trees.
A series of steps will be constructed at the river’s edge on O’Callaghan Strand to bolster it against future flooding, which is expected to worsen as global warming increases.
The Curragower Falls, a landmark feature of the river Shannon, will be highlighted and the river bridges, Thomond, Sarsfield and Shannon as well as Baals bridge, will be lit on a permanent basis.
Councillors were recently advised of the scale of the development, which will also include an overall improvement strategy for the following: the Treaty Stone, Steamboat Quay, King John’s Castle, Mariner’s Memorial, Harvey’s Quay, Honan’s Quay, Arthur’s Quay, Custom House Quay, Charlotte Quay, George’s Quay/Sir Harry’ Mall, Merchant’s Quay.
“The riverside is one of the most important natural assets of Limerick city, as already recognised by the substantial new private development investment that has taken place along it,†states City Hall
Emphasising that in order to complement the development already completed, the council’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure states that it has developed a riverside improvement strategy which aims to re-evaluate the potential of important riverside public areas.
“The upgrading of these areas will secure a high quality environment that complements and reinforces the Riverside City image,†says Pat Dromey, director of services.
Describing Limerick’s riverside as “one of the most dramatic features of the city centreâ€, architects, Nicholas de Jong Associates, said that Limerick has a continuous waterfront from the north to the south of the city.
They added that the Curragower Bund that was developed to facilitate the Limerick Main Drainage machinery, will now be used as the basis for a new park and amenity area on Clancy Strand, which will also facilitate the increasing numbers of kayakers who are developing the sporting activity there.
He also revealed that the further potential of Harvey’s Quay and Arthur’s Quay will be developed.
“Arthur’s Quay will be the subject of redevelopment proposals but meantime, a lot can be done to improve its appearance. This would include taking down the rails that surround it and substantially improving the park’s lighting to make it less forbidding.
“Merchant’s Quay has great potential – a lot could be done with the Potato Market, which is currently being used as a car park, and we’re looking at a board walk from King John’s Castle on to the Strands. We will also be looking at sprucing up the bridges.Cllr Diarmuid Scully repeated a concern he voiced some weeks ago regarding increased traffic that will develop on the quays, as a result of the pedestrianisation of the city centre.
He also said that a boardwalk from King John’s Castle would be “controversialâ€
“I’d be slow to tamper with any aspect of King John’s Castle, which is a very valuable asset for the city,†he said.
Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon welcomed the decision to remove the railings around Arthur’s Quay Park, and also the linking by footbridge of the Limerick Boat Club to Poor Man’s Kilkee.
“This has great potential for restaurants, perhaps a theatre and other amenities, and there’s also space to build out on to the river, but I would urge that light bulbs are used for lighting the arches of the bridges – not the dreary lighting that was used in the millennium year on Sarsfield Bridge,†he suggested.
Cllr Pat Kennedy said that Shannon Development should be involved in plans for King John’s Castle.
“They were given custody of the steel and glass contraption, which, according to the consultants we, as a Council, engaged, should be replaced. “
He also voiced concern regarding the basket stone used in rebuilding the wall on Clancy Strand, but it was pointed out that in time, basket stone mellows and develops moss and lichen, which makes the stone look weathered and more natural.
Confirming that some 50million euro is available to them for the city centre renewal, Mr Dromey acknowledged the “vast potential of Poor Man’s Kilkee, especially with the focus on Bedford Row and Thomas Street – Poor Man’s Kilkee could be a very eye-catching focus.â€
Mr Dromey said that a number of walkways along the river are being considered.
The lead consultant for the O’Callaghan Strand project is Nicholas de Jong Associates, with Tom McNamara and Partners acting as quantity surveyors and White Young Green as engineering sub-consultants.
Stressing the central city location of both strands, Limerick City Council roads engineer, Pat Eyres, said that the new Hilton Hotel and apartment blocks on O’Callaghan Strand will ensure a constant stream of people in the locality.
The bridge lighting is an interesting and welcome proposal, Sarsfield Bridge in particular is a beautiful cut stone structure that dosent really get the recognition it deserves!
The thorny issue of Aurthurs Quay park raises its head once again, a lot of small talk as usual and nothing concrete as to its long term use, however you do get a sense that they are keeping an open mind on the matter and its status could possibly change in the future. Dunnes Stores Sarsfield Street remains an absolute shambles, basically a 1970s prefab, they’ve recently refurbished the interior of the store so obviously no plans to offload it any time soon!
Its really tragic that they have been allowed to impede the development of this area for so long!:mad:
A little insight into Limerick City Councils spending plans for the year ahead!
Limerick Post 27th January 2007
Council on spending spree to improve image of city
by Marie Hobbins
Millions of euro will be spent in improvements over next 12 months, including 50,000 on repainting the railings on Shannon Bridge
REPLACING damaged footpaths in Limerick city will cost in the region of 500,000 this year, and carrying out repairs to local roads and footpaths is estimated at 560,000, while some 50,000 euro will go to apply thin surface overlays to existing paths.
These are just some of the figures given in Limerick City Council’s breakdown for works deemed priority status in its Roads programme 2007.
Stressing that submissions from local councillors were prioritised, the Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, states that many of the schemes included in their list “are multi annual rolling programmes, where works to reconstruct the existing roads and footpaths will be carried out over a number of years.â€
Resurfacing of a section of the N20 is estimated at 50,000 euro; improvement and resurfacing on the Condell Road, 40,000 euro; route lighting, 40,000 euro; painting of the railings on Shannon Bridge, 50,000 euro:
The recommendations of city councillors for urgent road and footpath improvements were actively considered and in many cases, included in the Roads Programme for this year.
However, as the council points out, not every submission can be attended to, due to funding curtailment.
“An engineering assessment was carried out on each proposal to determine the projects that should be prioritised in terms of benefiting the public, eliminating traffic hazards and sustaining urban development,†the Transportation Department states.
Other main expenditure will centre on:
* Upgrading the footpaths on the Dock Road will cost an estimated 200,000 euro, with a similar amount for improvements to the Dublin Road O’Callaghan Strand is to have expenditure of 400,000 euro, and 200,000 euro will be spent on refurbishing O’Dwyer Bridge.
* New traffic lights at the Childers Road/Hyde Road junction will cost in the region of 50,000 euro, and the same amount will be invested in improving pedestrian crossing facilities at the Shannon Bridge roundabout, as well as some 25,000 euro for other minor safety improvements.
* Limerick City Council will spend 450,000 euro this year on traffic lights and road signage, as well as 100,000 euro to extend the cycle pathways at the Parkway Roundabout to join with new cycle paths coming in from the University of Limerick.
* In the city, road and footpath improvements will cost some 560,000 euro. This will facilitate works on Summerville Avenue (80,000 euro): Sarsfield Street (100,000 euro): Courtbrack Avenue (80,000 euro): Kileely (60,000 euro):Top of Bloodmill Road (30,000 euro): Lower Park road (60,000 euro): Mill Road (50,000 euro): St Patrick’s Road (50,000 euro): Ashbrook (50,000 euro).
* An allocation of 500,000 has been set aside for concrete footpath repairs throughout the city, to continue the work started last year.
* Some 50,000 euro will go on thin surface overlays to footpaths at Janemount Park, Kileely, Irish Estates, Corbally, Garryowen, Janesboro, Mayorstone and Kennedy Park.
* Gulley cleaning and replacement will cost in the region of 100,000; patching of roads, 80,000 euro, gully replacement in Moyross, 10,000 euro, and raising manhole covers citywide, 25,000 euro.
* The provision of bollards will cost 40,000 euro, and 25,000 euro is estimated for traffic calming measures in each of the four city wards.
* Improved security lights for the city’s north side will cost in the region of 150,000 euro (this comes from the Dormant Account). Public light renewals will cost 50,000 euro, and 670,000 euro is calculated for ESB public lights, maintenance and energy costs.
* For the ongoing pedestrianisation of Thomas Street, including Augustinian Lane, Little Catherine Street and Little William Street, an allocation of 2,600,000 has been estimated; there is two million euro for the remodelling of Upper Thomas Street, including Foxes Bow; 4.5million for the Corbally Link Road; 1.75million for Clancy Strand upgrade: 1.5million for O’Callaghan Strand riverside upgrade: one million for the construction of green routes, and 100,000 for the design of an access road for Moyross.
A number of studies will be carried out during this year. These include a feasibility study for the creation of an inner orbital route in the city centre that will facilitate the pedestrianisation or partial pedestrianisation of O’Connell Street. This study will be advanced to Part 8 in February: A study for the remodelling of William Street and a study on the Limerick City Public Realm strategy will be published later this year.
Director of services, Pat Dromey, says that while every effort will be made by the council to carry out all the works included in their Roads Programme, “some schemes may have to be dropped and others added, should more urgent or emergency works arise during the course of the year.â€
I partly guessed something was up last week, No name had closed its doors and there seemed to be some activity going on inside, This project was starting to look a bit doubtful as it had been almost 2 years since permission was granted!
Still not mad about the external finish, it looks like it kind of obscures the facade of the chapel, would a fully glazed frontage not have been better?, I guess we’ll have to wait for the finished product!..
04488
Received Date 05/11/2004
Applicant Name Mr. John Costello & Mount Kennett Investment Company
Address Mount Kennett House Henry Street LimerickStatus APPLICATION FINALISED
Development
Type PERMISSIONDescription for the demolition of the Grand Central Cinema facade, roof, side internal and rear walls, and the retention and restoration of the circa 1820 Wesleyan Methodist Chapel facade and the construction of a 923 sq. m retail unit at basement, ground and first floor level and 821.5sq. m office at second, third and fourth level together with two bin storage yards and associated site works
Address 13 Bedford Row LimerickArchitect Name Arnold Leahy Architects
Protected Structure No
Granted Date 21/04/2005
New Boutiqe hotel at Pery Square / Barrington Street
Just a few months after the re-opening of the George, Limerick is to get another “boutique” hotel, this time one of the Georgians on Pery Square is to be renovated to provide a luxury hotel and health spa. The hotel market in Limerick has exploded in recent years, 5 opened last year and 2007 should see the Hilton and the Marriott opening their doors!
The Property at the corner of Pery Square & Barrington Street was used as a hostel until a couple of years ago, it was built by the Pery tontine company in 1838 as a result of a fairly interesting scheme!
using a financial device, called a Tontine, which was quite common then but is now banned. There were 89 shares which cost £120 per share. Each share had a life nominee and while this nominee was alive, the shareowner received dividends from the rental income earned by the company. But as each life died so also did the share it represented. The process continued until only six shares were left. The owners of these six shares got a house each.
Limerick City Council
04584
Boschurch Ltd. C/O Select Hotels Ireland
Development Description: 1. Change of use from derelict dwelling house and former hostel premises to hotel and health spa and all associated facilities. 2. Demolish existing derelict single storey clay brick shed. 3. Demolish and relocate existing derelict clay brick garden wall/conservatory and limestone steps and reinstate gardens: 4. Construct new five storey over basement structure linked to the existing derelict 2 storey over basement dwelling house on Barrington St. to accommodate car parking, restaurant, bedrooms and associated facilities: 5. Construct new external stairs from new basement area to street level and modify existing railings, gates and limestone plinth on Barrington Street. 6. Construct new external stairs from existing basement lightwell area and modify existing railings, gates and limestone plinth on Barrington Street: 7. Form new window ope fit new window and sill on the first floor of No. 1 Pery Square Barrington Street elevation: 8. All related ancillary works. This application is also for a revision of previously granted permission No. P03/434. This is a Protected Structure. SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE
Development Address: 1 Pery Square and
9 Barrington Street,
Limerick.Original Application
03434
for change of use of existing Hostel to a Guest House to consist of a kitchen, dining room, toilets and staff toilets in the basement, 2 no. bedrooms and ensuites, an office and reception on the ground floor, a residents lounge and a residents conference room on the first floor, 3 no. bedrooms and ensuites on the second floor, 3 no. bedrooms and ensuites on the third floor. Permission sought to make a good existing slate the existing roof, repair all external windows and doors where required, fit new internal partitions, doors and screens, reposition and replace existing boiler together with re-plumbing, re-wire to include fire detection and security system, reopen one number window on the first floor on the Barrington Street elevation and to demolish and rebuild the existing garden wall to accommodate the enlargement of the parking area (the building is a listed Protected Structure)
Development Address: No. 1 Pery Square
LimerickAttached Image
No.1 Pery Square (1st building on the left)
@CologneMike wrote:
Any images of these new proposals around? (City Art Gallery extension and boutique hotel in Barrington Street)
No images of the plans yet, the City Art Gallery project would appear to be in the early stages of planning! Below are the proposed improvements:
LIMERICK CITY GALLERY OF ART,PERY SQUARE
PROPOSED EXTENSION AND RENOVATIONS
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACT, 2000,PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, 2001,PART 8.
In accordance with the provisions of Article 81 of the Planning & Development Regulations 2001, Limerick City Council intends to carry out the following works at Limerick City Gallery of Art, Pery Square, Limerick.
(a) Proposed café extension to North side of Gallery
(b) Proposed Permanent Art Collection Storage, Workshop and Activity Room to East side
of Gallery
(c) Replacement of existing floor finishes to ground floor galleries
(d) Replacement of roof glazing over East Gallery
(e) Refurbishment of East Gallery
(f) Upgrade of existing servicesPlans and particulars of the proposed development will be available for inspection at Limerick City Council’s Planning and Development Department, 1st Floor, City Hall, Merchant’s
Quay, Limerick, Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm for a period of 4 weeks
beginning on the 18th December 2006.Limerick City Gallery of Art was founded in 1948 as a purpose built gallery addition to the Carnegie Free Library and Museum, a 1906 Neo-Hiberno-Romanesque styled building adjacent to the Peoples Park and the Georgian styled Pery Square, Limerick. Now all the building is used as exhibition space and recently a new South Wing Gallery was added. LCGA houses a fine Permanent Collection of works by early 18th, 19th and 20th century Irish artists, which encourages one to trace the development of modern Irish art in painting, sculpture and drawing. The collection, begun in 1948, continues to grow each year. The gallery also hosts exciting contemporary exhibitions by Irish and International artists including the widely known ev+a exhibition.
Images
1. Carnegie Building (Limerick City Gallery of Art)
2. Richard Russel arch at entrance to Peoples Park & Art Gallery
3. View from Park towards Upper Mallow Street
4. Last addition to Gallery (Murray O Laoire Architects)
At a special meeting yesterday, Limerick City Council gave their seal of approval to the proposed re-development of Thomond park. The process has gone surprisingly smoothly with the sole objector (who complained about noise levels and loss of natural light!) stating that he does not intend to take his appeal any further. 28 houses on Knockalisheen Road are to be demolished to make way for the expanded stadium, a few residents have objected to the council plans to relocate them and the City Council have now served eviction notices on them!
The proposal also involves the rezoning of residential lands to facilitate the development. The project involves 2 new stands complete with modern press facilities, bars and corporate boxes and the upgrading of both terraces. Work is scheduled to begin on the phase 1 in March!
06374
Permission for development on site area 0.9742 Hectares. The development will consist of the demolition of dwellings no. 1 to 28 Knockalisheen Road and associated out buildings, siteworks including decommissioning of existing services and site preparation to facilitate future development.
Address Knockalisheen Road, Limerick.
Here are a few photos showing Limericks telephone exchange in all its “glory!”
The 1st picture shows its frontage onto upper Roches Street, its a real brute of a building as you can see, theres also some nice security fencing to the left of it with a few ad-hoc advertising panels attached! Not content with an ugly pylon, Eircom have also installed a nice big mast for good measure!
@CologneMike wrote:
We must be the envy of the whole country for already having an iconic structure (mini Eiffel Tower) in the middle of the city centre! (Just 200 Metres from O’Connell St.) Seriously though, I could not imagine such an out-of-proportion communication pylon been allowed up in other cities such as Galway, Cork, Dublin etc?
The second image is taken from Shannon Street and yes indeed the pylon is there for all to see!:o
Aint she a beauty?
@CologneMike wrote:
Picture courtesy of rhurja taken 02.01.2007
Roches Row will only get a make over in the last phase of the remodelling of the city centre streets.
https://archiseek.com/content/showpost.php?p=60962&postcount=982
Wow, how dingy is that?. and as you say just a couple of hundred yards from O Connell Street! It’ll take more than a few new cobble stones to clean that place up!, the grimy pebble dashed walls of the Eircom telephone exchange dont do it any favours either and that pylon just adds insult to injury! The place for that building is an out of town industrial estate not slap bang in the centre of the city! It was opened in 1956 so you would think that its outlived its usefulness by now!, its a fairly large site too so it would surely make a pretty tidy sum if it came on the market, it is one of the last large city centre sites after all! At the moment its such a shameful waste!, a well thought out development here could be the catalyst for the revitalisation of the wider upper Roches Street/Parnell Street area!
I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see what happens!
Former Dan Ryan garage Punches Cross Limerick
Theres been a fair share of controversy since this project was first mooted last summer, most of the concerns relate to the height and bulk of the development with many claiming it is totally out of character with the surrounding area! The Punches Cross area is predominantly low rise and indeed the new Patrick Punches Hotel across the road (at a modest 2 storeys!) was designed with this in mind!..
06203
Redevelopment of the site will include the demolition of existing buildings and the provision of a mixed use retail/office development comprising (i) an anchor retail store of 4,010 sq.m gross floor space; (ii) 5 No. retail units; (iii) a licensed betting office; (iv) restaurant with ancillary take-away facilities; (v) independent upper floor offices of 4,721 sq.m net floor space; (vi) basement car parking with provision for 460 car parking spaces and (vii) all ancillary infrastructure and site development works including (a) realignment of the existing road network; (b) ESB substation (c) associated signage and (d) land-scaping works.
Address corner of Rosbrien Road Ballinacurra Road Limerick
Limerick Leader 21/12/06
Punch’s plan gets green light
RESIDENTS in the Punch’s Cross area intend to appeal Limerick City Council’s decision to grant planning permission to Robert Butler’s four-storey commercial and office development, according to Defence Minister Willie O’Dea.
City Hall has this week granted permission with 17 conditions attached including that the development be scaled down one floor to four storeys. And while Minister O’Dea welcomes modifications to the development, he says residents are “correct” in going to An Bord Pleanala. Planned is an anchor retail store of 4,000 square metres floor space, five retail units, a bookmakers, restaurant, offices, basement car parking for 460 cars and realignment of the junction at Punch’s Cross. “My understanding is that the residents now intend to appeal this decision to An B—rd Plean‡la and while the area is zoned for commercial development, I don’t believe this type of commercial development is suited to the area,” Minister O’Dea. Among the conditions attached is the proposed development would lose a floor; a management company be set up for the complex; work would be restricted to between 8.30am to 6pm on weekdays and 8.30am to 12.30pm on Saturdays and public holidays and the requirements of traffic management at City Hall be adhered to. A whopping development contribution levy of €2.8 million would also be payable to Limerick City Council. “While the fact that modifications are being made is to be welcomed, I still believe the residents are correct to appeal the decision. It is out of character with the area and the traffic implications for Punch’s Cross in particular are horrendous. As it is the place is facing gridlock,” Minister O’Dea said. The development has faced significant local opposition with some 25 submissions from residents and business people at Punch’s Cross, New Street, Rosbrien Road, Mount Vincent and O’Connell Avenue.Limerick Post 28/12/06
Punches development still too high – KennedyCOMPARED to the recently opened Punches Hotel, the proposed development at the opposite side of Punches Cross leaves a lot to be desired, according to local councillor, Pat Kennedy.
Recently, the planned development on the site of the former Dan Ryan’s garage was granted planning permission by Limerick City Council, but it is likely that this will be appealed to An Bord Pleanala.
The source of much controversy during the past months, the original planning application for a mixed commercial/retail development was for a five storey structure that included a late night opening takeaway, which was subsequently dropped.
Following objections from the residents who contended that the development is too dense and too high and would deprive them of light and encroach negatively on their quality of life, the developer Robert Butler, reduced the height by one floor and, speaking to the Limerick Post, he was emphatic that “height was not an issueâ€.
This week, Cllr Kennedy insisted that the four-storey building now proposed, is still too high.
“Minister Willie O’Dea, also agrees that it is too high. I will support the residents if they appeal to An Bord Pleanala as there’s already huge traffic problems in this area, which would become worse if a development of this density is allowed to go forward,†he said. “It’s out of character with the area, although I didn’t hear too much from my colleagues in Ward 4 on this,†he added.
Cllr Kevin Kiely, from Ward one, accused Cllr Kennedy of assuring the developer he (Kennedy) had his support for the development. This was strenuously denied by Cllr Kennedy.
Other councillors for the Ward 4, Cllr Jim Long and Cllr Maria Byrne, stressed that they met with the residents and made representations on their behalf regarding their objection
@PoxyShamrock wrote:
Whatever happened to the plans for William St. I specifically remember seeing the plans for William St. on the Limerick Post in May 2005 and I remember thinking to myself “if any street in Limerick needs a makeover it’s this one”
According to the managers report :
This Inner Orbital Route will also facilitate the extensive re-modelling of the remainder of the streetscape of O’Connell Street and William Street providing wider modern footpaths and new street furniture. A number of different options on the Orbital Route were presented to the Transportation & Infrastructure SPC in November of 2006 and detailed plans are currently been prepared for both the Orbital Route and the remodelling of O’Connell Street and William Street so that this major scheme can be advanced to the Part 8 public consultation phase during the first quarter of 2007. Extensive consultation will be carried out with all stakeholders during the first quarter of 2007,
We’ve already heard that the O’ Connell Street renewal works are scheduled to start on site in the Autumn, whether this means that William Street will also begin at the same time is open to debate. If these 2 projects did begin in tandem, Could the city centre deal with all the disruption?, Im sure with proper construction & traffic management plans it could!
These 2 Schemes are so badly needed, there cant be any more fudging!.. It is 2007 after all and we’re way behind in the city centre re-modelling stakes!
Just to refresh
Initially on the 30th of May 2006 Limerick City Council granted permission for:
05548
Demolition of numbers 4, 5, 6 and 7 Rutland Street, a five-storey office building at the junction of Patrick Street/Ellen Street (number 7 Patrick Street), number 6 Patrick Street, number 3 Ellen Street, Eurosurf and Workspace buildings on Michael Street, demolition with façade retention of numbers 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 Ellen Street, number 5 Patrick Street and numbers 8 and 9 Rutland Street, refurbishment of number 4 Patrick Street.
New buildings will be inserted in the existing streetscape at Bank Place; numbers 4 to 7 Rutland Street; Patrick Street/Ellen Street junction; along Ellen Street and at the Ellen Street/Michael Street junction. The existing building at number 4 Patrick Street will be redeveloped as a civic amenity. Number 9 Ellen Street (Quinn’s Pub and Garden Centre) will be re-roofed and redeveloped for public house and restaurant purposes.
The case was referred to An Bord Pleanala and in their report published on November 7th 2006 , they upheld the decision of LCC subject to the following conditions:
http://www.pleanala.ie/ORD/218/D218229.DOC
* The Georgian period buildings numbers 4 and 5 Rutland Street shall be conserved and repaired. The new build shall not oversail the retained numbers 4 and 5 Rutland Street.
* The front facades of the Georgian period buildings numbers 8 and 9 Rutland Street shall be conserved and repaired generally as indicated in the revised drawings submitted to the planning authority on the 12th day of April, 2006, but the design of the ground floor shall be revised to reflect the existing shopfronts, with two main doorways, and the ground floor façade shall be integrated into the new build (that is there shall not be a second hidden façade behind the ground floor façade).
*The Georgian period buildings numbers 4 and 5 Patrick Street shall be conserved and repaired. The new build element of the development shall be generally set back 3m from the rear façade of these structures and shall not oversail them.
*The front façades of the Georgian period buildings numbers 4, 5 and 6 Ellen Street shall be conserved and repaired and shall be integrated into the new build at ground floor level, so as to be active streetfronts.
*The Georgian period buildings numbers 7, 8 and 9 Ellen Street shall be conserved and repaired, including the shopfront of number 8. Numbers 7 and 8 shall be laid out so as to open onto the street and onto the internal circulation mall of the proposed development.
@CologneMike wrote:
D-Day approaches for Limerick’s Opera Centre (Limerick Leader)
By ANNE SHERIDAN 03 January 2007
http://www.limerickleader.ie/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=3419&ArticleID=1954365
[Cllr Jim Long. “The engineers don’t know if the buildings can be restored to their full potential. The five houses are said to cost in the region of €7million to €10million to restore and there are no takers from retailers to go into these buildings. Under planning conditions outlined by An Bord Pleanala this November, five buildings in the Patrick Street and Ellen Street area must be preserved and restored. “It should have been put to bed in October. We all have to protect our heritage. Granted the Catherine Hayes building has to be preserved but five buildings is extreme,” .
My god!, this man gets more pathetic every time he speaks out (which is becoming a fairly regular occurance now!).. he’s basically the unoficial spokesman for the opera centre!
So it will cost almost €10 Million to restore the five buildings!.. poor aul developers, with all the profits they’ll make from the project, how will they ever afford it?..:rolleyes:
I particularly liked this comment:
“They all want to go into the Opera Centre rather than an old building!”
“An old building?” : its probably a lot more than that, we’re talking about historic, architecturally significant buildings here. If they were restored to their former glory and incorporated into the shopping complex as is planned, im sure they’d give the development a whole new dimension! With clowns like Cllr Long its little wonder we’ve seen so many planning disasters in Limerick over the years!
He’s also critical of the ABP report which I thought was extremely balanced, it favoured the development while also recognising (unlike Limerick City Council) that the georgian buildings were significant enough to be retained! In fairness ABP are an independant body and at least they provide some bit of a safety net. Would anybody trust local authorities alone to make the proper planning decisions?
@CologneMike wrote:
City Centre Remodelling Project (Managers Report for 2007)
http://www.limerickcity.ie/general/finance/documents/Managers_Report_for_2007.pdf
(d) Limerick City Centre Orbital Route
Arup Consulting Engineers working with the Roads Engineering staff of Limerick City Council have developed plans for an Inner Orbital Route in Limerick City that will facilitate the full pedestrianisation of O’Connell Street between William Street and Roches Street thus creating a high quality pedestrianised public space in Limerick City centre. This Inner Orbital Route will also facilitate the extensive re-modelling of the remainder of the streetscape of O’Connell Street and William Street providing wider modern footpaths and new street furniture. A number of different options on the Orbital Route were presented to the Transportation & Infrastructure SPC in November of 2006 and detailed plans are currently been prepared for both the Orbital Route and the remodelling of O’Connell Street and William Street so that this major scheme can be advanced to the Part 8 public consultation phase during the first quarter of 2007. Extensive consultation will be carried out with all stakeholders during the first quarter of 2007, to create plans that best reflects the type of city centre the citizens of Limerick city will desire in the future.So the part pedestrianisation of O Connell Street is still very much on the cards, it looked like they had abandoned this plan as there hadnt been a word about it since the original plans were first revealed back in 2001!
It sounds like a great proposal in theory and the with the re-modelling works due due to start later this year, which I thinks its way earlier than anyone could’ve expected. I just wonder though will this route (which is vital to the pedestrianisation project!) be in place by the Autumn?.. Pretty hard to see it really! If it isnt, where will all the traffic go?, There is bound to be fairly serious disruption!, I would guess the project will take 2 years (at least!) to complete, however the Southern ring isnt due to open till 2010! Will the re-modelling works not start without the orbital route?
So many questions!
There were a few images the O Connell Street plans in the Limerick Leader over Christmas, looks pretty much to be a replica of the paving used on Bedford Row and Thomas Street, does anybody else think that they should go for something different on O Connell street?..something a bit more special and distinct from the other revamped streets! It is supposed to be the city’s flagship street after all!
More on the Opera Centre from this weeks Limerick Leader, always a big fan of negativity!
December 23rd 2006
Developers say they are not pulling plug
Opera centre developers are denying that they intend to pull the plug on Limericks shopping mecca due to the number of conditions set out by An Bord Pleanala for the project to go ahead.
And developers are now looking at other locations for the €250 million development as they are “fed up†with redrawing their plans for the Patrick Street area, claims a city councilor.
But Belfast businessman Suneil Sharma and CEO of Regeneration Developments Ltd, told the Limerick Leader they fully intend to pursue their plans. “As far as we’re concerned these are just rumours. We are fully committed to the project, even though we’ve had some difficulties going forward. But we’re still going ahead†said Mr. Sharma.
Property owners on Patrick Street and Ellen Street were told by developers that the takeover would be finalized this November but that date now looks likely to drag on for at least another 4 months. “The take-over still hasn’t been finalized, the developers have seriously been thinking of pulling out and have been scouring other areas like Galway†said Cllr. Jim Long.
“I am led to believe the developers are seriously peeved off. Its report after report after report. We could have a potentially serious dilemma on our hands. “I believe this could warrant more co-operation,†concluded Cllr. Long.
An engineers report on the revised development I expected to reach Limerick City Council for assessment in February, which could take another 4 weeks to approve. This November Regeneration Developments Ltd were sent back to the drawing board after An Bord Pleanala set out 18 conditions for the project to go ahead. Four Georgian buildings on Rutland Street, which were due to be demolished for the construction of the Opera Centre, now have to be conserved and repaired.
Local architect Cait Ni Ceallachain who refused to accept a €250,000 payoff to withdraw her objection, criticized the original plans on the grounds that architectural heritage would be lost if the project went ahead.
The project, which is the biggest development in the country at present, is set to bring 1,200 new jobs to the region.
Damn those objectors for trying to save whats left of the city’s Georgian heritage, the cheek of them, they should be ashamed of themselves!
Cllr Long seems to specialise in the use of scare tactics, he’s been constantly giving on about planning delays. In a way he has a point but you have to strike a balance between an efficient planning process and the avoidance of development at all costs!
Anyway, enough of that, Happy Christmas to all our Limerick contributors, have a good one!:D
@CologneMike wrote:
Opera Centre
Browsed through the thread and came across a link to Lafferty’s Design website posted by ShaneP a year ago. To date this site never showed up on the Google search machine for the “Opera Centreâ€, as the site is built using Macromedia Flash. Alas the images are very small.
Its the best render yet of the Opera Centre, well dug out CologneMike! All we had to go on until now was the fairly crude image below.
The entrance features are somewhat similar to those at the Coonagh Cross centre (currently under construction on the Ennis Road) I wouldnt be mad about the beige cladding though, (if that is to be the final finish!) Also I thought ABP stipulated “no blank walls facing onto Ellen Street!” surely a continuation of the glazed frontage would be a much better option here?
Coonagh Cross
http://www.bwarchitects.co.za/project.htm@J.P wrote:
People, whats with the language creeping in to the posts. It started withTuborg try to express how upset he was over the jewellers on O Connell St, that was nearly acceptable given how upset he was but this post from Paris Jack is way over the top. Keep it for the Pat Short concert guys
And they told me my Tourettes was cured!
@PoxyShamrock wrote:
I honestly don’t think it’s that bad. In all fairness it could have been worse…they could have knocked the building. If you look to the right of Matthew Stephens you can see that that Eason have done the same with the building. The Original brickwork is still underneath. I don’t remember Cruises Hotel so I can’t be a judge of that disaster…..all I can say is that it was well before my time.
Ah come on! Its an absolute joke, Limerick City Councils job should be to preserve and protect what remains of the city’s georgian stock not destroy them! Obviously Retailers like Matthew Stephens dont give a s*** about historical buildings, they wanted to increase the amount of retail space available to them by converting the upper floors from storage to retail use. I dont see where Installing a gigantic window and plastering over what was a fairly attractive Brickwork facade fits into the plans.
Also Im not so sure about the Eason building, historical photographs dating back to the 1890s show a plastered finish to the building!
@CologneMike wrote:
It will be very difficult for the city council to refuse them planning permission on heritage grounds as they all can chant back “everybody else is doing it so why can’t we?â€.
Well the simple solution to that is : not to let this crap happen in the 1st place. How this one slipped through I’ll never know!
I was in the city centre today (Sunday) for the 1st time in about a fortnight and I acually couldnt believe my eyes, Look what Matthew Stephens Jewellers have done to the georgian building at 8 O Connell Street!
I thought something was up when they removed the second floor facade a while back but now they’ve inserted a huge window and plastered over the brickwork! How the fuck was this allowed to happen, I though those days were over!
Matthew Stephens had Planning permission for:
05384
Permission for development at Matthew Stephens Jewellers. The development consists of the following: Removal of existing shopfront and projecting clock over, the construction of a new two storey shopfront with retractable awning at first floor level, new render finish to existing brickwork over new shopfront; new projecting clock and illuminated clock at first floor level; refurbishment of basement, ground and first floor levels which included change of use from associated storage areas to retail jewellers of both the basement and the first floor; realignment of existing fire escape exit at rear on second floor; insertion of two new windows at rear of second floor. The development consists of a total floor area of 326 sq. m. all of which is intended to be used as retail space.
I know Limerick City Council are an incompetent bunch at the best of times but this is unbelievable!
Attachments
Pic 1. Before (The building with the clock between Eason and HMV!)
Pic 2. After (Taken Sunday 17 December 2006)
Apologies if the quality is a bit shit, I took it with my phone!
